Chapter 9

Kim Dojin, instead of fighting Nazrak head-on, chose a strategy to win his favor and use him. It wasn't like this from the beginning. Like other gamers, Kim Dojin had also knelt before Nazrak hundreds of times. That's why the strategy he chose was to use Nazrak.

First, he would win Nazrak's favor by addressing his most sensitive and vulnerable points, strategy and diplomacy, and then become his subordinate. After that, he would make Nazrak attack other territories that threatened the Iota fief. For example, the neighboring and rival Solun fief...

"Your name is Auto, right?"

Nazrak asked Auto.

"Yes, Lord of Death."

"You said you studied strategy and diplomacy for a long time."

"That's correct."

"Then, how should I move?"

Nazrak, who had experienced a bitter defeat due to past mindless conquests and diplomatic failures, was very cautious.

"First..."

Auto replied.

"Since you have just been resurrected, the priority is to build up your strength."

"I agree with that."

"And you need to increase the number of undead soldiers under your command. Your current power is too small."

"That is also true."

"But if you move rashly, humans will form an alliance to resist you before you can build up your strength and power."

"Then, what should I do? I can't just sit around and not build up my strength and power, can I?"

"First, you need to attack humans to build up your strength and power. However, you must move strategically to prevent humans from forming an alliance. Look at this."

Auto took out a map and showed it to Nazrak.

"Advancing like this will give humans time to form an alliance."

"Is that so?"

"By the time you conquer the second fief, humans will likely realize your resurrection and form an alliance."

"Ugh!"

"But..."

Auto pointed directly at the Solun fief on the map.

"Here, if you start by conquering the Solun fief, it will be difficult for humans to form an alliance."

"Start with the Solun fief?"

"Look at the terrain... You need to conquer the Solun fief first to prevent other forces from uniting."

"Oh, I see!"

"Start with the Solun fief, then conquer Laseine, and finally Ort fief."

"Break the middle?"

"Yes, Lord of Death."

Auto nodded.

"Then, I will lead the Iota fief's army to disrupt the rear. If we do this, the entire region will become your territory."

"An excellent strategy!"

Nazrak was impressed by Auto's strategy.

"If I follow your strategy, this entire region will become my base."

"That's right, Lord of Death."

"Understood. I will start by attacking the Solun fief."

"I am honored that you follow my humble advice."

Auto bowed deeply to Nazrak and then moved on.

"Then, start by conquering the Solun fief. I will go to the Iota fief and raise the army to disrupt the rear."

"Go ahead!"

Nazrak readily sent Auto off.

[Notice: Nazrak likes you!]

[Notice: Nazrak's affection towards you has changed from <Expectation> to <Admiration>!]

Thus, Nazrak, following Auto's advice, skipped the Iota fief and headed for the Solun fief.

'This way, I don't have to pay back the loan. Huhu. The annoying Solun fief will disappear from the map.'

Auto smiled as he watched Nazrak and the undead army move away.

But the plan didn't end there.

While Nazrak was devastating the surrounding fiefs starting with the Solun fief, there was something he needed to do.

'If I let him run wild, it will be troublesome. Your role ends there.'

Auto immediately headed towards the Iota fief on the ghost horse given to him by Nazrak.

* * *

Camille was confused.

'Was this really part of the plan? Did he really boast that he would destroy the Solun fief in two weeks?'

Auto had clearly said it.

He would destroy the Solun fief in two weeks.

And it was becoming a reality.

The undead army, which had been advancing towards the Iota fief, had changed direction and was heading towards the Solun fief.

If this continued, the Solun fief would be destroyed.

On the day Auto had predicted.

'Could he really have seen this coming? Really?'

However, it was very difficult to believe that Auto had the ability to foresee the future and the wisdom to use it.

"Maintain the battle readiness and wait. And the messengers... inform the surrounding fiefs of this news. We need to spread it as quickly as possible."

"Yes, Sir Camille!"

Camille sent out messengers to form an alliance to resist the undead army and watched the situation from behind the closed gates of the castle.

Then,

"Camille, Camille!"

Camille looked around aimlessly and suddenly met the eyes of a hateful face.

It was none other than...

"You, you...?"

Camille was startled to see Auto's head peeking out from behind a gargoyle statue.

Why was the guy who had abandoned the fief and become an undead army's lackey here?

"Bro, come here for a moment. I have something to talk about."

"What nerve do you have...?"

"Shh."

Auto warned Camille.

"Don't make a fuss. Just come here."

"...Alright."

Camille moved towards the gargoyle statue where Auto was hiding.

He was already confused and wanted to hear some explanation from Auto.

"Here. Come in quickly."

Auto was hiding in a secret passage behind the gargoyle statue.

"What's going on here?"

As soon as Camille entered the secret passage, he bombarded Auto with questions.

"You abandoned the fief and ran away. You even became a lackey of the undead army. Why are you back...?"

"Ah, stop it!"

Auto scowled.

"I told you it was all part of the plan! Didn't I?"

"Is that... really true?"

"Are you saying I lied? Even though the undead army is attacking the Solun fief right now?"

"Th, that's..."

"Think about it logically. Who wants to become an undead? There are other ways to be a lackey."

"Th, that's... but..."

"Enough, I'll show you the results. Just follow my orders for now."

"Alright."

"But..."

Auto narrowed his eyes and glared at Camille.

"Your words are short?"

"That's..."

"Try to do better?"

"I'm sorry."

"You're always disrespectful when you get a chance."

"..."

"Ah, my fate."

After sighing, Auto turned to Camille and gave an order.

"Knight Camille."

"Yes, I'm here."

"At dawn, Nazrak's undead army will conquer the Solun fief and head towards the Laseine fief. After conquering the Laseine fief, they will advance to the Ort fief. That's when the opportunity will come."

Auto took out a map and pointed to a specific location in the northern mountains.

"When the undead army advances to the Ort fief, lead your army here."

"What's there?"

"There's a very old castle. It's overgrown with bushes and is almost in ruins."

"Why here...?"

"Nazrak's main body is here."

"Is that really true?"

"Nazrak has stored his soul in this castle. The one leading the undead army now is just a shell. To defeat Nazrak, you need to destroy the soul stored in this castle."

"How did you find out such a secret...?"

"That's a trade secret, so I can't tell you. Just do as I say. Got it?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Stop cursing me."

Auto glared at Camille.

"I almost died from embarrassment."

"..."

"Is that disrespect? Does a knight who has sworn allegiance to his lord curse him?"

"I didn't curse..."

"You're lying."

"Really, I didn't."

"If you did, I'll strip you of your knighthood and demote you to a private."

"..."

"You did, didn't you?"

Auto, seeing Camille's tight-lipped silence, said with a sour expression.

"You believed me and then doubted and cursed me behind my back."

"That's not... it..."

"Enough."

Auto turned away, looking upset.

"I'll go ahead. Come when the time comes."

"Understood."

"Prepare yourself for a tough battle."

With that, Auto disappeared into the opposite end of the secret passage.

"Really..."

Camille watched Auto's back with a complex feeling.

He was so different, it was almost unrecognizable.

* * *

Two days later.

"...So, our Iota fief's army will, following the lord's orders, attack the sacred ground where the evil undead overlord's soul rests."

Camille led the Iota fief's army towards the northern mountains, following Auto's orders.

"That guy... I mean, the lord didn't betray us?"

"Good heavens! The lord himself infiltrated the undead overlord's army to gather information?"

"Are you asking me to believe that...?"

"It's, it's unbelievable!"

The knights and soldiers of the Iota fief found it hard to believe Camille's words.

That the notorious troublemaker would risk his life to become a lackey of the undead overlord Nazrak and gather information...

"Believe it without doubt! The lord took on the stigma of being a lackey of the evil undead to maintain secrecy! You all cursed him, but..."

Camille said this with a slightly red face.

In fact, Camille had genuinely cursed Auto, feeling guilty about it.

"Now, the lord has changed! So, our army will follow the lord's orders and advance to the sacred ground where the evil undead overlord's soul rests!"

The knights and soldiers of the Iota fief marched with mixed feelings of doubt and trust.

* * *

At around the same time.

After conquering the Solun fief and moving on to the Laseine fief, Nazrak advanced to the Ort fief with renewed momentum.

The size of Nazrak's army had more than doubled since the beginning.

This was because Nazrak had turned some of the fallen from the Solun and Laseine fiefs into undead monsters.

"There, the undead army!"

"Stand your ground!"

The Ort fief resisted fiercely.

However, they were no match for the strengthened Nazrak and the undead army, who had passed through the Solun and Laseine fiefs.

- Excellent.

Meanwhile, Nazrak's main body, which was staying in the sacred ground, was watching the battle at the Ort fief with satisfaction.

The Death Knight and Necromancer on the battlefield were just a shell.

They were a kind of avatar created by dark magic.

- Now, once I conquer the Ort fief, this entire region will be my territory...

At that moment.

- ...!

Nazrak was startled to feel an army approaching the sacred ground.

- Who dares to invade my sacred ground!

Nazrak identified the intruders through the eyes of the undead monsters guarding the sacred ground.

The result was.

- That, that guy...!!!

Nazrak was enraged to see Auto leading the invading army.

- This bastard... he's betrayed me!!!

Nazrak finally realized he had been deceived by Auto.

But it was too late.

Nazrak's main army was far away, fighting at the Ort fief, and Auto's Iota fief army had already entered the sacred ground.